Combine sugar and water in saucepan. Bring to a boil. Stir constantly with a wooden spoon to make sure all the sugar crystals dissolve. Boil until you have a syrup that forms a thin thread when dripped from the spoon.

Stir in all the spices and then the vanilla. Remove mixture from heat. Quickly, stir in all the nuts at once. Stir until the nuts are thoroughly coated and the syrup begins to crystallize. Using the same wooden spoon, remove nuts from saucepan and spread out on cookie sheet. Allow nuts to cool for a few minutes before separating them with two forks.